On Thursday, March 26th at 4pm, Carnacki hosts Portland psych // drone // noir // acid-folk sextet, Abronia, for a live in-studio interview ahead of their show later that same evening at Thee Stork Club.
From the first thud of their 32-inch bass drum to the coil of pedal steel winding through the haze, the sound of this Portland-based six-piece is unmistakable. Over the past decade, Abronia has been refining their singular blend of widescreen psychedelia, desert noir, Eastern drone, avant-jazz, doom, post-punk, and acid-folk—channeling something that feels at once ritualistic and cinematic. With pedal steel, tenor sax, guitars, bass, commanding vocals, and that ever-present oversized drum (no drum set here), their lineup alone sets them apart. But it’s the way these elements cohere—graceful, unhinged, unorthodox—that makes their sound feel like its own weather system.
On Shapes Unravel, their fourth studio album, Abronia pushes deeper into both composition and feeling. The band’s lineup has shifted slightly since the last one, but the chemistry remains intact. James Shaver has put down the sticks and moved to guitar, Danny Metcalfe has stepped in on bass, and Robert Grubaugh (who previously filled in on a European tour with the band) has taken over on the big drum. Eric Crespo‘s guitar and backing vocals remain a driving force, while Rick Pedrosa continues to carve strange and searing shapes with pedal steel. Keelin Mayer’s vocals—whether leaning into viciousness or hypnotic intimacy—are a stronger force than ever, while her tenor sax and, on one song, flute (as showcased on “Gemini”) threaten to send the whole thing into the stratosphere. The addition of strings and brass brings an orchestral depth that expands their sonic language without diluting its punch.
Photo: Alex Kroman
